Sun’s out, Fun’s out – Tips for Choosing a Sunscreen

Summer is almost upon us. Now that the weather is getting better, it’s the perfect time to step outside and get your vitamin D. Here is my list of tips for managing sun exposure:

  • Ten to fifteen minutes of unprotected sun exposure early in the morning or late in the day is the perfect time to absorb a decent amount of vitamin D for most individuals

  • If you are going to be exposed to the sun for longer periods of time it is best to stay in the shade or make shade (under an umbrella), wear protective clothing including a hat and light coverups or UV-ray blocking clothing, and UV-blocking sunglasses

  • Longer periods of time outside require protective measures including use of a sunscreen

  • When choosing a sunscreen opt for mineral based lotions (not sprays) with a minimum SPF of 15 but no greater than 50 (curious about why SPF over 50 is a no-go? Read more here)

  • Remember to reapply as directed, especially if swimming or sweating

  • Don’t forget, your skin is your body’s largest organ. What we put on our skin directly absorbs into the body and our blood stream. Chronic or long term exposure to toxins, parabens, chemicals can have long term consequences for our health including hormone disruption which impacts the thyroid gland and our reproductive system

My top sunscreen picks:

For kids and babies:

  • Baby Bum Mineral Sunscreen Lotion, Fragrance Free, SPF 50

  • thinkbaby Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50+

For adults:

  • thinksport Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50+

  • Badger Active Natural Mineral Sunscreen Cream, Unscented, SPF 30

Lip balm with SPF:

  • Burt’s Bees All-Weather Moisturizing Lip Balm, SPF 15

Moisturizer with SPF:

  • Goddess Garden Face the Day Daily Moisturizer, SPF 30

To help you choose a sunscreen that best suits your needs check out the EWG’s 2019 Guide to Sunscreens. If you already have a sunscreen at home, simply click on the site above and input the name of your sunscreen to see its score on a scale of 1-10. A score of 1 is best, whereas 10 is not the best choice (due to chemical components).

Yours in health,

Dr. Kate ND

Health TipsKate Kleinsummer, sunscreen, clean products, healthy lifestyle, vitamin D, hormone health, skin health1 Comment